Wireless implant converts blood sugar to treat diabetes and obesity

Bioengineers at ETH Zurich have developed a drug-free wireless implant that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream, offering a potential new treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The device uses a low-voltage catalyst of gold, platinum, and graphite to convert blood sugar into gluconate, which the kidneys excrete in urine. In mouse trials published in Science, it normalized blood sugar within 90 minutes and cut body weight by up to 10 percent over six weeks. Controlled via a smartphone-linked continuous glucose monitor, the implant activates automatically during sugar spikes and shuts off when levels normalize. Larger animal trials in pigs and sheep are planned, though experts caution that human kidney function and electrolyte risks require further study.